Southwestern College journalism students were presented with the American Scholastic Press Association 2013 Community Service Award for its defense of free speech, support of diversity and coverage of campus corruption during the Chopra administration. El Sol magazine, produced by students in the Campus Newspaper Production class when budget permits, was honored by the College Point, New York organization this month. SWC’s student newspaper, The Sun, was also honored, and was named America’s best community college newspaper.
“The Southwestern College El Sol magazine has been a clarion for the power and light of diversity by highlighting examples of multiculturalism at work and creating understanding through education,” read the ASPA statement. “El Sol…has created awareness of other cultures, and built tolerance and respect in misunderstood South Bay communities…and has demonstrated leadership in multicultural journalism.”
SWC journalism students have won nearly 150 state, regional and national awards so far this year, including the Pulitzer Prize of collegiate media, the Pacemaker Award, presented to The Sun by the Associated Collegiate Press in Chicago. The Sun and its website also won national excellence awards from the ACP.
Earlier this year The Sun was named National College Newspaper of the Year by the National Newspaper Association at its convention in Charlotte, South Carolina. Recently the National Society of Professional Journalist named The Sun the outstanding non-daily student newspaper for large institutions in Region 11, which includes California, Arizona and Nevada, at its convention in Phoenix.
Southwestern swept the top awards at the Journalism Association of Community Colleges Convention in Sacramento. The Sun won the Pacesetter sweepstakes award, and top honors for each of its three publishing platforms, The Sun newspaper, El Sol magazine and theswcsun.com web publication.
Journalism students have also been recognized this year by the San Diego Press Club, Patriot Press Awards, San Diego Association of Black Journalists, California Newspaper Publishers Association and Western Association of Publishers, among others. Five journalism students won SWC Student of Distinction Awards and nearly 30 won campus or industry scholarships. Seven journalism students are currently interning for regional or international print and broadcast media organizations.
